The Abandoned Ocean County Radio Station That Once Connected New Jersey to the World

Here’s a pretty interesting piece of Ocean County history that you may have never heard about. I stumbled across this from an article originally published by Duncan Edwards for Travelmag New Jersey.

Get our free mobile app

I decided to go and see this piece of "broadcast history" right here at the Jersey Shore.

Shawn Michaels

Back in 1929, AT&T built a huge radio transmitting station at Good Luck Point, near the Toms River and Barnegat Bay.

And believe it or not, this major communications station was built right in the marsh. Parts of the property were only about 18 inches above the high-water mark.

Shawn Michaels

Not exactly where you would expect to find a worldwide communications center!

According to the article by Duncan Edwards, the Ocean Gate transmitting station, known by its call sign WOO, helped connect ships at sea with people back on land. Its powerful radio signals could travel thousands of miles, reaching places across the Atlantic and beyond.

At one point, the property was filled with huge antennas, towers and miles of wires. Some of those antennas stretched more than 700 feet. Just imagine looking across Barnegat Bay and seeing all of that!

What Was The Abandoned Ocean County FM Station?

Shawn Michaels

Long before smartphones and satellite phones, ships depended on radio to stay connected.

WOO helped send messages between ships and stations around the world, reaching Europe, the Caribbean and South America.

According to reports World War II gave the Ocean County station another important job. Beginning in 1942, WOO helped transmit Voice of America programming to places like Europe, Australia and the South Pacific.

So while life was going on here at the Jersey Shore, this little spot in Ocean County was helping send American news and information around the world.

What Became of the Ocean Gate FM Station?

Improved undersea cables, satellites, and newer communication systems made stations like WOO less important. After nearly 70 years of service, the Ocean Gate station finally shut down in 1999.

Take a look at the station when I recently visited this abandoned site.

Superstorm Sandy brought major flooding and even more damage to the abandoned property.

Much of the old antenna field was eventually removed, and the surrounding property became part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

Sometimes, the most fascinating stories hide in places we drive past every day without a second thought.